Electric plug



M y 1943- H. B. JONES 2,318,230

ELECTRIC PLUG Filed May 2,' 1940 INVENIOR.

. f7 BY owardfi @7266,

Patented May 4, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC PLUG Howard B.Jones, Evanston, 111. Application May 1940, Serial No. 332,862

4 Claims. (o1. 173-361) My invention relates to electrical apparatus andparticularly to a plug having novel characteristics. This application isa continuation in part of my copending application, Serial No. 309,-765, filed December 18, 1939 patented as 2,235,155, dated March 18,1941.

the plug provides the usual wire connector ele- An object of myinvention is to provide a simpie, sturdy plug adapted for use inconnection with high capacity currents and which may be assembled with aminimum of labor. It is particularly intended for use in connection witha multiple plug and socket; that is, one in which a plurality ofconnections are made by the use of the same assembly.

In the use of multiple plugs and sockets, it is element for each contactpiece.

Furthermore, since it is essential that the terminal pieces to which thewires are connected shall be covered, I provide a hood into which thewires are led and which hood is likewise removably secured to the basein such manner as to adapt it for easy separation when required.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawing; in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a multiple plug assembly, a portion of thehood and base being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the assembly; and,

, Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

In the drawing I have shown a base It composed of Bakelite or somesimilar dielectric material, the base being rectangular in outline andproviding eight openings for the accommodation of the plugs for a fourcircuit assembly. These openings Ii, one of which is shown in Fig. 3 andall of which are identical, extend downward and terminate short of thelower wall l2 of the base in a narrow slot l3 of substantially the sizeof the plug or contact piece it which projects there through. At theupper end of the opening I provide notches I5 on diametrically oppositesides in order to accommodate lateral projections or ears It provided onthe plug. The upper end of ments including the screw I1.

"The base is also provided with a transverse opening l8 having acontracted unthreaded portion l9 and a continuation 20 thereof at apoint beyond the other opening ll. Within this transverse opening isreceived a screw 2| and the plug member M has a threaded opening whichis engaged by the said screw.

In installing the plug member it is seated in the position shown in Fig.3 by a sliding movementand thereafter the screw 2| is placed as shown,the opening l8 being later filled with wax. Thus for replacement it isonly necessary to back out the screw 2! and the contact piece may berenewed. 1

As a means for covering the wire connectors I provide a hood having abody portion 22 which is U-shaped in cross-section and provided withends 23 and 23a, the end 23 being permanently Joined to the body portionby crimping or riveting, and the hood being lined with an insulatingmaterial. Secured to the end 23a and surrounding an opening in said endis a thimble or sleeve 24 adapted to receive and hold a cable 25 throughwhich the to hold the hood in place. For ease in assembly the saidopenings are flared at their outer ends,

as best shown in Fig. 3.

In order to replace any damaged plug, it is only necessary to remove thescrews 21 and lift the hood body by means of the finger holds 28sumciently to expose the base and connectors. 'Ihereupon the screw 2!holding the damaged plug maybe removed and a new contact piece inserted.

I claim:

1. In combination, a base having an opening, a contact piece within theopening and extending on opposite sides of the base, said opening beingof substantially greater width than the piece at its upper end and beingcontracted at its lower end to a size only slightly greater than thecross sectional area of the piece, and its upper end screw extendedlaterally through a side wall of the base and engaging said threadedopening in the piece whereby to hold the piece against longitudinalmovement.

2. In combinatiom-a base having an opening, a contact piece within theopening and extending on opposite sides of the base, said opening beingof substantially greater width than the piece at its upper end and beingcontracted at its lower end to a size only slightly greater than thecross sectional area of the piece, and its upper end havingdiametrically opposite notches, projections on opposite sides of saidpiece adapted to engage said notches, whereby the piece is held only atthe upper and lower ends of the opening against lateral movement, andsaid projections and notches act as limit stops for the piece againstdownward motion, and a screw extended laterally through a side wall ofthe base and engaging said piece to hold it against longitudinalmovement.

3. In combination, a dielectric base and a plurality of metallic plugelements readily removably mounted therein, each held in place by ascrew entering the base from a side edge of the base, and a hoodoverlying the assembly of base and plugs and removably connected to thebase by holding means engaging the said side edges oi the base, saidhood overlying said plug-holding screws, said hood being composed 01' abody portion havinga permanent end wall at one end and at its other enda sleeve for the reception of wires adapted to be connected to said plugelements. said hood with its fixed end wall being removable as a unitvertically from the base.

4. In combination, a dielectric base and a plurality of metallic plugelements readily removably mounted therein, each held in place by ascrew entering the base from a side edge of the base, and a hoodoverlying the assembly of base and plugs and removably connected to thebase by holding means engaging the said side edges of the base, saidhood overlying said plug-holding -screws, said hood being composed of aU-shaped body portion having a fixed end wall at one end and at itsother end an end wall carrying a sleeve for receiving wires adapted tobe connected to said plug elements, said hood body and fixed end wallbeing removable as a unit vertically from the base.

HOWARD B. JONES.

